5 Best Online New York Real Estate Schools in 2021

Do you think you’ve got what it takes to make it in New York real estate? It’s not nearly as expensive or as time-consuming to get licensed as you’d think. You can take the state exam after just 75 hours of prelicensing courses at one of many approved New York real estate schools.

First, you’ll need to find New York real estate classes that fit your needs, and we’re here to help. Here’s our list of the best online real estate schools in New York. 

In no time at all, you could be helping clients buy a cozy upstate NY home, a summer home in the Hamptons, or a chic Manhattan apartment.

5 Best Online Real Estate Schools in New York 2021

Helpful Information to Know Before Choosing a New York Real Estate School

Becoming a real estate agent in New York can be accomplished quickly and inexpensively. Here’s what you should expect from quality New York real estate schools.

Courses You Need Before Sitting for the Exam

The first step to becoming a real estate agent in New York is to enroll in the state’s 75 hours of prelicensing courses. You must complete these New York real estate classes before taking the exam. All of the schools on our list offer these classes, and we’ll help you choose the best school for your situation.

For more information about becoming a real estate agent in New York, read our seven-step guide.

Courses That Help You Prepare for the Test

It may have been years since you last sat for an exam. Most soon-to-be real estate agents feel more comfortable facing the licensing exam after spending time with quality test prep materials. Some of the prelicensing packages mentioned in this article will include test prep materials, and others don’t.

Courses You Need to Stay Licensed

The first time you renew your real estate license, you’ll need to take 22.5 hours of New York real estate continuing education courses. We know that you aren’t even thinking about renewing your license right now, but we mention it because some of the packages also include the continuing education (CE) courses you’ll need to take within two years.

Now that you know what you need to become licensed and stay licensed in New York, here are the online real estate schools you should consider.

Best Overall Online New York Real Estate School: Real Estate Express

Real Estate Express holds the top spot on our list of New York real estate classes for several reasons. This company exclusively offers online real estate education courses for dozens of states (including New York), and they’re good at what they do. For more information, check out our national guide for the country’s best online real estate schools.

We chose Real Estate Express as the best real estate school in NYC because its programs are affordable and expertly designed. The essential material is repeated, so you have ample opportunities to learn it. Even though it’s a national company, you can still receive help from a state-approved instructor.

Real Estate Express Pricing

Let’s learn more about the packages they offer so you can start your journey into a real estate career today. Real Estate Express offers four prelicensing course packages in New York, starting at $309.

• The Basics ($309): This entry-level package is for those who are “disciplined self-starters with some real estate experience.” You’ll receive the required 75 hours of courses, three real estate e-books, and email or phone access to state-approved instructors. It’s an ideal package for a self-starter, priced from $309.
• Exam Preparation Package ($364): We recommend Real Estate Express’ Exam Preparation Package. It includes everything from The Basic package plus exam prep material and the Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee, which means you’ll get your money back for the package’s cost if you don’t pass the exam the first time you take it.
• Exam Preparation Plus ($419): For $55 more, you’ll receive everything in the previous two packages plus 40 hours per month of live access to state-approved instructors. You’ll be able to ask questions regarding tricky material or items that you miss on the practice exams. This package also includes a printed textbook.
• Ultimate Learning Package ($499): In this still affordable package, you’ll receive everything from the Exam Preparation Plus package as well as a one-year membership with McKissock, a professional development company. With this membership, you’ll have access to professional development courses, webinars, job aids, and more!

Our Favorite Real Estate Express Feature: Affordability

There’s a big price difference between Real Estate Express and some of its competitors. If you purchase the Exam Preparation Package (which includes test prep material), your total expenses for a New York real estate license may be less than $450.

For less than the cost of one hour of college credit, you could be qualified to assist your clients with buying or selling millions of dollars’ worth of real estate.

[Related article: Real Estate Express Review + Video Walkthrough]

Where Real Estate Express Could Improve

You may love how affordable Real Estate Express is, but you may not be sure you have the discipline to sit through 75 hours of complicated and sometimes dull material.

If you know that you could learn better with a real-life (online) instructor, consider enrolling in the New York Real Estate Institute. They offer live, online streaming courses.

Try Real Estate Express

Sign up for one of Real Estate Express’ New York prelicensing packages today. You can get started with your first lesson immediately after creating an account, and 75 hours later, you’ll be qualified to sit for the licensing exam.

Visit Real Estate Express

Best New York Real Estate School for a Guaranteed Job: New York Real Estate Institute

New York Real Estate Institute has graduated over 100,000 students since opening in 1987, and they’re the only local company on our list. They initially opened to provide classes to those interested in investment real estate, but they realized that their innovative scheduling would appeal to those interested in changing careers.

New York Real Estate Institute allows you to take their courses in any order. The live, online classes are offered mornings, afternoons, evenings, and weekends, and the rotating schedule is designed to get you through the material within 10 days. Plus, the company guarantees you a job through their unique placement program.

Our list of best real estate schools in NYC wouldn’t be complete without including New York Real Estate Institute. Here’s what we learned about their packages.

New York Real Estate Institute Pricing

New York Real Estate Institute offers two packages. Here’s the breakdown of what’s included in each of them:

• Basic ($495): Students will receive access to the 75 hours of their online (or live online) New York real estate classes with this introductory course.
• Platinum ($995): This top-tier course includes exam prep materials, an e-book, group tutoring sessions, discounts on New York real estate continuing education courses, and lifetime job placement assistance.

Our Favorite New York Real Estate Institute Feature: Guaranteed Job Placement

New York Real Estate Institute has many unique offerings, including live, online courses that you can take in any order. While we like their unique schedule, our favorite feature is the guaranteed job placement for those who purchase the top-tier package.

Regardless of your niche, New York Real Estate Institute has relationships with some of the top real estate brokerages in New York.

Where New York Real Estate Institute Could Improve

Local real estate schools often don’t have the resources available to produce sleek, interactive online courses. While New York Real Estate Institute can give you access to real-life New York real estate agents, they may not be able to provide you with online classes with high-level production value.

If you’d like modern-looking interactive course material, consider purchasing a package from Real Estate Express or Mbition.

Try New York Real Estate Institute

Graduating over 100,000 students is an impressive statistic. New York Real Estate Institute must be doing something right. Get a guaranteed job and access to a live, streaming classroom when choosing New York Real Estate Institute.

Visit New York Real Estate Institute

Best New York Real Estate School for People on the Go: Aceable Agent

Aceable Agent was the first major online real estate school to invest in developing a mobile app for their program. As a result, Aceable Agent is the premier choice for people always on the go. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t waste even a moment of your day, you’ll appreciate Aceable Agent’s mobile-friendly real estate courses.

Unlike Real Estate Express, students with Aceable Agent aren’t required to have access to a laptop or desktop to complete their real estate classes. You can take your unit exams from your cell phone or tablet instead of a laptop or desktop.

Users also like Aceable Agent’s interactive format and fresh, engaging content. You’ll have email access to certified real estate instructors from Monday to Friday who can answer your questions about course content or the licensing process.

Aceable Agent Pricing

Aceable Agent offers one prelicensing package for New York. Like Real Estate Express, it’s very affordable.

• Online New York Real Estate Course ($269): Aceable Agent’s package includes full access to its mobile app, which allows you to switch back and forth between your laptop (or desktop) and your Apple or Android phone. The program also comes with customized exam prep material.

Even though their guarantee isn’t as impressive as some schools, they offer you your money back if you don’t pass the licensing exam after three attempts.

Our Favorite Aceable Agent Feature: Mobile Experience

If you have a fast-paced New York lifestyle and every minute of the day counts, you’ll love Aceable Agent’s app. You’ll be able to complete a section test of your New York real estate classes while waiting to pick up your kid from dance class or while riding in the back of an Uber.

[Related article: Aceable Agent named one of The 5 Best Real Estate Continuing Education Providers for Realtors]

Where Aceable Agent Could Improve

Aceable Agent provides the coursework you need to sit for the real estate exam. However, their guarantee, which promises a refund after your third failed attempt, doesn’t inspire much confidence. Their test prep material is not the strongest, and they could do better in giving their students specific test-taking strategies.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced program that allows you to get through the required coursework quickly, purchase one through Aceable Agent. Additionally, we would also recommend that you buy an exam prep program through Mbition.

Try Aceable Agent

If you’re always attached to your cell phone and have pockets of time throughout the day to complete lessons, consider enrolling in Aceable Agent’s prelicensing courses for New York.

Visit Aceable Agent

Best New York Real Estate School for Exam Prep: Mbition

Mbition (previously OnCourse Learning) deserves a spot on our list for its quality exam prep materials. Since you can’t sell a brownstone in Queens without passing the New York licensing exam, having quality test prep materials is extremely important. But besides offering exam prep materials, the company also offers prelicensing course packages.

All three of Mbition’s packages include MathMaster, a program that walks you through the formulas and concepts you’ll be required to know to pass the licensing exam. The top two packages also have a “Pass the First Time Guarantee.” Their actual program features audio and video lessons as well as interviews with experts in the field.

Mbition Exam Prep Pricing

Mbition offers three real estate prelicensing courses solutions in the State of New York.

• New York Real Estate Pre-Licensing Silver Solution ($229.99): We know this package is even cheaper than Real Estate’s Express’ affordable courses, but we don’t recommend that you choose it. It doesn’t come with exam prep. Still, you do receive access to the MathMaster program.
• New York Real Estate Pre-Licensing Gold Solution ($294.99): Besides receiving the essential instruction and MathMaster program, you’ll also receive access to the New York Real Estate Exam Prep program. Mbition guarantees that you’ll pass the licensing test the first time if you use their program, or they’ll refund your money.
• New York Real Estate Pre-Licensing Platinum Solution ($344): You’ll receive everything from the previous two packages and extra test prep material that includes flashcards, topic review recordings, and additional study tips with this package. You’ll also receive a printed textbook.

Our Favorite Mbition Feature: Exam Prep

Mbition’s top two packages include quality exam prep, which uses adaptive learning technology to create individualized study plans. The program’s algorithm will keep track of which type of questions you miss most frequently on practice exams and will provide you with additional explanatory material on those subjects.

We also love that the Mbition’s test prep materials cover both national and state-specific topics. Many exam guides only cover questions from the national part of the exam, but this isn’t the case for Mbition’s New York package.

[Related article: 7 Hacks for the Real Estate Practice Exam (+Free Mini-test)]

Where Mbition Could Improve

Mbition’s program focuses on getting you licensed. If you would like a program that also offers assistance in finding your real estate niche, marketing your business, and using real estate technology, consider checking out the packages offered by Kaplan. If you’re looking for a program that also provides job placement services, take a look at New York Real Estate Institute.

Try Mbition

You can purchase Mbition’s exam prep materials without buying a prelicensing package. Regardless of which company you choose for your prelicensing courses, there’s no time like the present to get started.

Visit Mbition

Best Online New York Real Estate School That Provides Career Resources: Kaplan

Kaplan has been helping students pass tests since 1938. All three of their packages include the 75 hours of prelicensing classes, a New York-specific real estate textbook, and access to a live, online study session. They also include an on-demand test prep course to give you that additional boost of confidence you’ll need right before taking the exam.